Tastykake to Water Ice: Grading Iconic Philly Snacks
From Peanut Chews and Tastykake to pretzels and water ice, Philly has some great treats. Host Trenae Nuri and City Cast Philly producer Abby Fritz taste and grade their favorite snacks.
City Cast Philly’s Grading System
A - Free Wawa coffee
B - Finding a parking spot on Broad Street on a Saturday
C - A bike ride on MLK Drive, but it’s a cloudy day
D - Your kid is on the waitlist for a school
F - You’re stuck in traffic on I-95, I-76, Walt or Benny Bridges
If you’re looking for a great outdoor spring activity, check out Wissahickon Park. Read the Hey Philly newsletter’s Urban Almanac to learn more about the beautiful trails.
Read more about the history of Peanut Chews here.
Discover more on Philly's version of soft pretzels with these articles from Billy Penn, Serious Eats, and Philadelphia Magazine.
To learn more about Tastykake, check out Philadelphia Magazine, Thrillist, and Penn State University.
For more on the origins of water ice, Rita's and Pop's Italian Ice have descriptions on their websites.
If you need to know more about Peeps, check out their website and this Vox article.
Want some more Philly news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey Philly.
We’re also on Twitter and Instagram! Follow us @citycastphilly.
Have a question or just want to share some thoughts with the team? Leave us a voicemail or send us a text at 215-259-8170.
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Stay connected to City Cast Philly and get ready to join the local conversation.
Latest Episodes
‘Your City Could Be Better’: How One City Beat Restrictive Zoning — Presented By City Cast Philly
Do you know how zoning laws affect Philly’s housing costs? New Haven, CT, has been governed for years by restrictive zoning that made it...
Is Philly Really the Most Walkable City?
For the fourth year in a row, Philadelphia has been crowned the nation's most walkable city. Yet for most locals, walking to work or even...
Your Guide to August 2026 in Philly
While some Philadelphians are still down the shore this summer, there’s plenty of fun events happening in the city in August. We recommen...
How Your ZIP Code Determines 311 Response Times
Missed trash pick-up, abandoned car, fallen tree, and a pothole — what do these all have in common? You call 311 if you want the city to...
LeBron James Hype, Social Media Credibility & Keeping Cabs in Philly
Ever since LeBron James announced he’s going to wear the red, white, and blue Philadelphia 76ers uniform, the Philly and regional impact...
Mayor Parker Talks 250th Outcomes, New City Program & Legacy Work
Summer 2026 has been a historic summer for the city. Reports show 1.4 million people poured into Philly this summer to attend FIFA World...
‘Your City Could Be Better’: The Trick to Getting People To Volunteer — Presented By City Cast Philly
It’s not a given that every Philadelphian will chip in to help their community. In this episode, City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with wri...
FBI Excavates Olney Home, Voter Registration Help & Dating Tips
Philly needs help voting and dating! So host Trenae Nuri and senior producer Abby Fritz are discussing the city’s summer voter outreach s...
Is Philly A Good City For Renters?
May through September is peak moving season in Philly. So, before you lug boxes and furniture into a moving truck, look over contracts an...
Rideshare Regulation, Companionship A.I. & Prison Reform: A Lawmaker’s Summer Recess
Summer recess and a wrapped-up state budget don’t mean Pennsylvania legislators get to relax. This is when these lawmakers can focus on i...